Apple’s smart home hardware lineup may finally be refreshed after years of relative silence. According to a new report from Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing updated versions of both the Apple TV set-top box and the HomePod mini, with a launch scheduled for later this fall.
The timing is notable because Apple’s home-focused products have remained largely unchanged while competitors such as Amazon and Google are aggressively expanding their home ecosystem with AI-powered assistants and connected devices. Apple now seems poised to reposition its home products alongside the company’s next-generation Siri and Apple Intelligence strategy.
Apple’s smart home push is finally getting going again
According to a Bloomberg report, the new Apple TV hardware is actually complete and almost ready for release. Gurman says Apple originally planned to launch the refreshed device earlier, but delays surrounding Siri and Apple Intelligence pushed the launch timeline forward to 2026.
The updated Apple TV will reportedly not get any dramatic hardware changes on the outside, but the internal improvements are expected to be significant. Apple is said to be focusing on AI preparation, including support for new Siri skills and Apple Intelligence features that current Apple TV hardware cannot fully support.
One of the biggest expected improvements is a new chip that replaces the aging A15 processor that currently powers Apple TV 4K. Gurman notes that the existing model has started to feel slow compared to Apple’s new hardware, making the refresh even more necessary.
The HomePod mini is also reportedly getting an update, though Apple seems to be taking a tougher approach with the small smart speaker. Bloomberg says the key change will include support for Apple’s improved Siri and AI features with the new wireless chip.
Apple’s smart home systems seem to be much bigger than just these two devices. Gurman reports that the company is still developing a delayed smart home hub with a display and facial recognition capabilities, as well as deeper integration of AI across Apple’s ecosystem.
The company is reportedly preparing AI-powered smart glasses and an upcoming Siri upgrade designed to act as modern AI assistants instead of traditional voice command systems.
Why is this important?
Apple’s smart home ecosystem continues to feel stagnant compared to competitors. While Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are evolving into AI-powered living things, Apple’s Siri and HomePod products are struggling to keep pace.
The new Apple TV and HomePod mini seem to represent Apple’s attempt to rebuild its smart home strategy around AI rather than simply rolling out incremental hardware updates. For users already invested in Apple’s ecosystem, the upgrade may also be important because many future features of Siri and Apple Intelligence may rely on new chips and updated hardware.
What happens next
Apple is expected to reveal more about the AI roadmap during WWDC and the latest software announcements linked to iOS 27 and iOS 28. If Bloomberg’s report proves to be accurate, the updated Apple TV and HomePod mini may launch sometime this fall alongside the release of Apple’s AI-focused software.
Apple’s biggest challenge, however, may not be releasing new hardware. It will take convincing users that Siri and Apple Intelligence are finally able to compete in a smart home market that has already moved forward during years of Apple’s delays.
